Craig Crawford's Trail Mix

Craig Good Morning,

I believe that the bottom line is that West Virginia hasn't ALWAYS predicted the next president. So Barack Obama is not out in the cold if Hillary Clinton does.

Also the loyal Democrats of West Virginian are loyal to a fault. A great trait. They and Kenutcky will display their loyalties today. Good for them!

However, according to the Math, Obama is still ahead after the votes are in.

So everyone enjoy. I can't help but feel good for all of you. A good way to end the Day for Senator Clinton.

From:
crooksandliars.com
We’ve all been talking about how pompous and lousy our punditry class is and how they want to choose our candidates and select the issues (or controversies—phony or not) that should be covered while ignoring policies that have a real impact on all Americans. It’s been pretty sickening all around. Eric Boehlert wrote this great column weeks before Tuesday’s primary called “So now the press tells candidates when to quit?”

History continues to unfold on many levels as the protracted Democratic Party primary race marches on, featuring the first woman and the first African-American with a real shot at winning the White House. Here’s another first: the press’s unique push to get a competitive White House hopeful to drop out of the race. It’s unprecedented.

Nice Clip Craig,

You CQ Guys are getting better and better!

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/05/12/obama-to-visit-michigan-f_n_101340.html

At a time when we're facing the largest homecoming since the Second World War,"

Obama said of veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan, "the true test of our patriotism is whether we will serve our returning heroes as well as they've served us."

Pointing to the Bush administration, he said, "we know that over the last eight years we've already fallen short of meeting this test."

He cited once shabby conditions at such facilities as Walter Reed Army Medical Center, and long waits and bureaucratic obstacles facing many who seek care from the Veterans Administration.

"When our troops go into battle, they serve no faction," Obama said. "They serve no party. They represent no race or region. They are simply Americans."

For those of you like me who is up before the Polls even open. Just a nice look at what kind of work is happening on the Hill.

A Liberal Wit Builds Bridges to the G.O.P.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/13/washington/13barney.html?_r=1&hp&oref=slogin

By DAVID M. HERSZENHORN
Published: May 13, 2008

WASHINGTON — Representative Barney Frank, the rumpled, cantankerous chairman of the Financial Services Committee, plopped down on a leather bench off the House floor last week.

After two months of trying to win Republican support for his bill to help homeowners at risk of foreclosure, he had come up short.

The White House had just threatened a veto

Craig,

To answer your question, no Hillary's late- in-the-game, likely double digit wins
in West Virginia and Kentucky do not represent the last minute rallying for
a failing challenger but do signify Obama's troubles reaching voters outside
his demographic base.

The fact his surrogates and most pundits are pushing the notion that Obama
will change the electoral map is just another way of suggesting that these
"problematic" folks don't matter. Instead of working to win them over, Camp
Obama will merely ignore them. Millions of white working class voters, white
women over 40 and anyone not enchanted by Obama or who question him
have been demonized by the media anyway--transformed into racists or
old, senile women, uneducated, beneath contempt.

But, I worry about a presidential candidate who seems to have such problems
relating to a large section of this country. It is a shocking situation that should
not be ignored.

Sheila,

Do not put your party hat on for November quite yet. There is another side to the equation in Nov. Although I strongly support Hillary and will write-in her name in Nov.. Obama has problems elsewhere that WV shows off today.

Here in Massachusetts, we have a long history of electing Republican Governors, there is a large white working class and lots of Catholics, our current Governor, the first African-American and huge Obama supporter, is a colossal disaster with approval ratings in the low 30's near Bush country, and NH is next door which is wildly enthusiastic for McCain and lots of NH people work in MA. Last month polling data in MA showed McCain was beating Obama (47-44%) while Hillary crushed McCain (57-42%). Hillary won MA by big numbers.

The polling has changed since then but Obama is still weak here. I have loads of Boston College friends that are opting for McCain rather than Obama....

Wow! Great Article. Not necesarily Pro Obama. But very Pro "Understanding WV"

Can Barack Obama win West Virginia?

http://www.salon.com/news/feature/2008/05/13/west_virginia/

Once upon a time, Michael Dukakis could carry West Virginia by five points, one of only 10 states he won in 1988. And Bill Clinton won the state twice. But cultural issues --

"God, guns and abortion," as Charleston's Republican Mayor Danny Jones put it Monday morning on local talk radio host Hoppy Kercheval's show -- finally moved West Virginia toward the red column in presidential elections, dooming Al Gore and John Kerry here.

Now Democratic Party chairman Nick Casey isn't even sure the state is up for grabs in the fall.

"We were a swing state, and we swung the wrong way the last two elections," Casey, who hasn't endorsed either candidate, said in an interview.

"We got bamboozled, fooled, lied to -- whatever the word is -- by the inside-the-Beltway Republican Karl Rove machine. ... I don't know if people are considering us a swing state or not anymore."

Here's a tough choice: Go see Obama in Grand Rapids tomorrow night or go to a birthday party for my Mom. I mean , tomorrow is her birthday....but it's OBAMA! What to do....what to do...

Re: David Schuster's somewhat premature piece about possible veeps for BO --
I voted for Hil'ry Clinton because I thought she was the best-qualified candidate, not because she is a woman. You can't just put a woman in that position and expect to get Hil'ry's votes. Heck, you can't even put Hil'ry in that position and expect me to vote for BO...unless I can be assured that the VP spot will not be its usual superfluous self, but Cheney-esque.

BO can be the spokesmodel if Hil'ry can be in charge.

Corey good Morning.

Never choose a Presidential Candidate over your mother. Clinton, Obama, and McCain are fair weather friends as compared to the one who gave you life!

Here's a Cartoon for you Blue. Its about the Media,

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/horsey/viewbydate.asp?id=1762

Good Morning All,

I woke up and flipped on the news thinking, "West Virginia" this will be nice. Go out on a high note, and enjoy today. Senator Obama will be okay. Then I hear Chris Matthews and Mika yammering on about just how evil Hillary Clinton is for shredding the party blah blah blah and the instant reaction is ... NEVER!~!!!!!!!! I'll vote for Obama when the devil is ice skating.

Sometimes the worst thing that can happen to a candidate is the people who support him or her.

I guess the sarcasm sailed right by.

DON'T listen to them Jamie, Stick to the high note and enjoy every second of this win! Do you want THEM to win?.....

Too true. If the media had pushed harder for details on what BO wants to do & how he plans to do it, if the public had known about Rezko, Ayers, Hamas & Wright in December, he wouldn't have had the momentum to get this far.

The GOP will pounce on him with these things & the Dems will have Kerry-ed themselves out of a chance at the WH, again.

I'd like the Dems to win, but more importantly, I'd like this country to get back on track. If McCain rides the fence between conservative & maverick, if he can make people believe he's both, he will win.

I don't think McCain will toe the party line once in office. I think he's playing the game because he has to do so. As Craig stated back at the NY convention (sitting in Herald Square), McCain has to be the Republican nominee; he can't be the nominee of no party.

jamie - I was quite amused at how out of touch Tweety & Meeker are about Dems voting for BO just because they are Dem. If it comes down to ice skating, folks may go with the devil they know (McCain) rather than the devil they don't know (BO).

As far as I can tell, BO does not offer change nor does he offer solutions. BO only offers more questions.

Sheila,

Matthews almost literally just said that any woman who supported Clinton must have led a wasted life and blamed Obama for all the failures and Mika just giggled at him. ... YUCK

He should be forced to listen to his misogynistic drivel on continuous loop until the men in the white coats come to drag him away to his well deserved padded cell where he can spit and drool on the floor for the next decade.

Here's a thought: A huge write-in vote campaign for Hil'ry. That would give all of those who voted for BO in their state's primary & who now have buyer's remorse a chance to put the right person in the WH!

Sheila,

Right now all I know is that I don't want the Matthews of the world to WIN. If that means voting against Obama just to watch him shrivel in well deserved ignomy, then voting for McCain will be fun.

Blue,

That's actually what I plan to do. It was my mid way position. Obama might be able to seduce me from there, but as of now it will be a write in if only for the joy of seeing the numbers reported in November.

If that turns into a full blown campaign, I'm on board.

Jamie, Blue & Patsi: I think Obama has some pretty smart bean counters working for him. After all, they figured out how to run the numbers to get where they are. And, there's a pretty good chance that they believe they can win in November with this new coalition—I haven't done enough research to know whether or not it's possible but I suspect it is. The question is: What happens to the "old" coalition? Where do the Hillocrats go? I think it's time for a real third party movement in this country...

Add Prof. Marcia to my last post as well...didn't see you were here!

In Michigan's faux primary , the Obama supporters urged everyone to vote "undecided". Can we do that in November?

Also got quite a giggle out of Hil'ry winning big in WV being a good thing for BO. It might be nice for HRC to go out on a high note, but it speaks volumes about BO's problems down the road. People don't know him & ya can't trust someone ya don't know with that much power.

Craig - What is with the .5 on the super delegate count? Not so super-duper?

Jamie et all,

I can't compete with all the hate and hurt you all feel today. I hope you can put it aside and enjoy this win. I am off the bog for a while.

Today because its not going to be so fun and don't want anymore downers. My Dad died last Wednesday. You guys kept my mind off it last week and thank you by the way.

and then I will be moving home to a job in Tacoma.

See you after the 23rd!

Just another delusional day for the Clintonites. You guys will crow that Billary won tonight, but as I've told you for MONTHS now, it's over.

Three more weeks and then Billary will given in a space Hall of Failed Presidential campaigns.

And I forgot to comment on this yesterday, but dang Craig, they really called you out yesterday morning on Morning Joe. I've been saying that Craig has been in the bag for Clinton forever, and I even gave a list of negative Obama headlines Craig will post in the future.

When Billary inevitably decides to imitate the Black Knight of Monty Python fame, refusing to leave after June 3rd, Craig will still be saying it's not over. And also saying she can still win. LOL

Corey,

The big problem with a third party candidate is money. Virtually all of the constituencies that support Sen. Clinton are solidly middle class. They don't have thousands that add up to millions to throw at a candidate. That was one of the reasons that I suggested jumping on an existing party structure such as the green party.

ally - Yeah, I suggested the Hillocrats refer to themselves as the Smart Party. That should make jamie happy; we can have an owl as our mascot.

jamie - Well, somebody e-mail HRC's people to get that rollin' if she's not the nom. (And, we still don't know that that won't happen...but considering Kerry...)
Prob'ly still end up with McCain because, attn: Obamaniacs, most of the country is not far, far left.

bye bye said:

"You guys will crow that Billary won tonight, but as I've told you for MONTHS now, it's over."

Looks as if little bye-bye doesnt recognise the irony contained in his statement.....lol

Sheila,

I missed that your father had passed away. My condolences. I hope resettling in Tacoma at least for a while is a good move for you.

When Hillary drops out , will you leave here Bye Bye or at least change your name to Bye Bye McCain?

Jamie, Blue

Let's get the write-in campaign going!!! There are lots of "better old women" that will jump aboard!!

Go Hillary!!!

I like Bye Bye. As an adult , I never get to say Bye Bye very much or even wave Bye Bye.

If Hillary drops out, bye-bye will change his name to "bye-bye obama" and continue his work for the mccain campaign...................lol

I might change my name to Bye Bye Dallas Stars.

Is anyone aware that Obama's SLIP of visiting 57states is the same number, 57, Islam states?I am very scared fo what this man would bring to the white house. If he gets it, my son, daughter and I will vote for McCain as I am sure many many others.
His entering the world of politics in Chicago is also very scary from what i have been reading.
Hillary has to stay in, Obama will faulter before the convention..
Also how very poor on his part to whip WV off his plate
That just tells you the kind of President he would make. If it does not matter to HIM he would not serve at area when in the White House.
Is everyone blind?

good morning gang.....

Sheila.... so sorry to hear about your dad.... my deepest condolences....
and I hope that going to your home state will be a welcomed change...

Craig.... I agree with what prof. Marcia said..... this doesn't bode well for Obama in the general....

Pogo..... hey..... your Cavs and my Celtics are now 2-2....
if I keep watching, I may become a basketball fan after all.....

Lets do the Hillary write in vote, its not only for old women its for old men like me.

Mel7

sturgeone "Here’s another first: the press’s unique push to get a competitive White House hopeful to drop out of the race. It’s unprecedented."

prof marcia: "The fact his surrogates and most pundits are pushing the notion that Obama
will change the electoral map is just another way of suggesting that these
"problematic" folks don't matter. Instead of working to win them over, Camp
Obama will merely ignore them. Millions of white working class voters, white women over 40 and anyone not enchanted by Obama or who question him
have been demonized by the media anyway--transformed into racists or old, senile women, uneducated, beneath contempt."

sturgeone and prof marcia. Beautifully said and bears repeating. thanks

Bob Herbert followed by David Axelrod? That does it. Over to CNN

Meg......I was quoting from a story at CrooksandLiars dot com on Russert's pronouncement that obama was the nominee.......good story......worth a read.........

Here's that Crooks and Liars article

http://www.crooksandliars.com/2008/05/12/when-pundits-decide/

BTW,

At the end of the article is a chance to "Spotlight". Use it. It is an excellent service to bring a particular blog article to the attention of national media.

On Fox News this morning, Terry McAluiffe praised (again) their fair coverage of the Clinton campaign.

My husband announced last night that he plans to do a write in vote for Hillary in Nov. I'm still not sure yet, but leaning towards it. I just don't like Obama and can't see how I could force myself to vote for him. But, I'd rather chew broken glass than cast a vote for Mc Cain.

nannymm-My husband announced last night that he plans to do a write in vote for Hillary in Nov."

nanny, congratulate your husband!
I'm on board.

Jamie, will do.

"Yes, We Go To Fox News Again for an HONEST, OPEN discussion on the Democratic primary race:"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QiVFLEtSJyg

"At least...they give Hillary and her supporters the time of day, and they actually ACKNOWLEDGE that there are VOTERS who should still have a... opportunity to VOTE and to be HEARD!"

http://noquarterusa.net/blog/2008/05/12/yes-we-go-to-fox-news-again/

coming up next on CNN ... the angry women of a "certain" age speaking out.

How sad is that?? Who ever would have thought that FOX would be fairer to a democrat than MSNBC or CNN?
Sometimes, lately ,it seems as if everything is upside down and inside out, like a cross between Alice in Wonderland and The Wizzard of Oz. And I wonder how we got here to this point where Bill and Hillary are loathed by half their party and demonized as racists and the out of nowhere baby-faced Obama is seen as the new "messiah." Has half the Democratic Party gone insane? Do they have an electoral death wish? I just don't get it.
Call me a CONFUSED bitter old lady.

I've posted several times recently about Obama's willful failure to hold European Affairs Sub-Committee Hearings -- which is a position his party appointed him to do in an office the people of Illinois elected him to perform.

Those are obligations to the people, to the Senate and to the nation -- particularly at a time when the Russian Federation is looking to reinstate a non-ideologically, purely power driven version of Soviet dominance throughout Eastern Europe and Central Asia.

I haven't heard a response from any of them -- whatever their temperaments are.

Shame on them.

So keep this as a little mirror in your bird cages as you chirrup, squawk and peck.

You are supporting a public servant who doesn't serve the public or the world.

He could have missed a few campus rallies, you know, to hold hearings.

If you think that because he is "popular" he will have much influence over even a Senate with a stronger Democratic majority.... you've got a lot of hope and very little reality on your side.

The Senate will be concerned to the point of obsession with re-establishing its Constitutional powers.

They will not be in a honeymoon phase with him longer than his Inauguration Day speech. They disdain him and his disdain for them.

Anyway... maybe Obama's next campaign song on YouTube will be him making his Astaire moves to "Putin On The Ritz"..

Because he doesn't seem to grasp what is happening there at all.

" While the Mountain State is almost a laboratory for rural and working-class voters who often elude Democrats in general elections,"

The state is Republican in general elections so it's no big deal if the junior senator from NY wins there.

IT'S A BEAUTIFUL THING TO WATCH HER CAMPAIGN IMPLODE !!!!!

Skylark,

Well, you can crap all you want in your birdcage.

Obama still failed to address IN HIS OFFICE Putin's permanent power grab and de-democratization of Russia and his determination to start wars with former Soviet states.

Instead he got his little parrots to chant how pretty all his birdies are.

No wonder you dropped out of Broadway. Such a nasty world where you have to be a lot more observant and smart than even the nastiest of people there to create anything worthwhile.

Actually, Skylark, WV is is not a republican state in general elections. It went for Bill Clinton in 1992 and 1996, and Dukakis in 1998.

Jamie, I too picked up the Chris Matthews comments
about "older women" and their support of Hillary, in
addition to his continual awestruck vision of Obama.
Tiresome at best.

While many of us believe that nbc/msnbc has gone
over the edge in its "reporting" this primary season, there is an interesting in depth article about nbc's short comings in media matters by Eric Boehlert that just reaffirms what we have been viewing all these months.

NBC's bad week

http://mediamatters.org/columns/200805070004?f=h_column

And, yes, it is amazing that it appears that FOX News
is now more fair & balanced then nbc/msnbC!

Brian the Seer also failed to acknowledge Obama's dismissing Point Three of his Barack Changes The World In A Snap predictions:

Brian claimed Barack and Nancy (the Sid and Nancy of DC) will wean the nation off fossil fuels.

The next day Obama launches -- without revealing it in advance to the press as is their consistent MO -- a KY campaign ad lauding his total support of liquid coal.

Can't wait for the next four fantasies to drop like trousers gettng pantsed.

Coreen: Some years ago I swore I would never watch Fox News again. I have had to eat my words. You are so right when you say that it now appears Fox News is more fair and balanced than MSNBC. What is even more bizarre is that the only pundits on MSNBC who seem at least neutral are Joe Scarborough and Pat Buchanan. Who woulda thunk it.

Obama said he's going to campaign in 57 states, and it turns out that there are 57 Islamic states.
http://www.rushlimbaugh.com/home/daily/site_051208/content/01125122.guest.html

Typical Karl Rove playbook politics. Up is down and down is up.

Yes they want Hillary so they can unite their base in November.

And as usual you fall for it.

God Bless.

Every night just to find out what is happening in the world, I watch BBC news. The difference in coverage, tone, and usefulness is astounding compared to the US news sources.

It isn't dry or egg head. Some of the subjects are entertaining and light hearted, but they actually cover the NEWS ... you know that stuff that you might really find of interest on what is happening in the world.

Every night Katty Kay and Matt Frei remind you of what TV journalism used to be. So do yourselves a favor. If you want to know what is going on check out

http://www.bbcamerica.com/content/169/worldhome.jsp

anon-paranoid,

If you can drop your Hitler trope...

Why don't you study what Putin has done and is doing?

And how Obama has done nothing to explore that despite what his Senate colleagues insisted he do as his job.

Not one hearing. Not one report.

Just a lot of songs and dances.

Maggisd, I'm laughing, but it is really kind of frightening for me to acknowledge that as well.

"Coreen: Some years ago I swore I would never watch Fox News again. I have had to eat my words. You are so right when you say that it now appears Fox News is more fair and balanced than MSNBC. What is even more bizarre is that the only pundits on MSNBC who seem at least neutral are Joe Scarborough and Pat Buchanan. Who woulda thunk it."

Yes, how things change. But of course Craig is best of all, when he's on there, which is often enough.

Anon: And you think their "base" won't be united against Sen Obama?
Dream on.

"Look man....I'm not gonna fall for the banana in the tailpipe!" - Eddie Murphy in Beverly Hills Cop

But of course Craig is best of all, when he's on there, which is often enough.

correction: ISN'T often enough. IS NOT

Meg - I'm sure you meant to say that Craig isn't there often enough. Of course, he has to put up with a lot of abuse when he is there.

Sheila, condolences to you and your family. And for your dad, may he have "Fair skies, good winds and a following sea."

OD

Latest Oregon out of Survey USA. You've got some convincing to do

http://www.surveyusa.com/client/PollReport.aspx?g=94e9005d-d8d6-46e2-b09a-697a4e23a900

Craig - I continue to wonder what the Obama campaign has in mind when they speak about re-drawing the electoral map? Let's give him Virginia, and then what? The idea that he can beat McCain in the western Red states is not a given by any means. Where does he make up he electoral college votes that he might lose in the swing states?
Let us all remember that the voting in November does not include weighted voting, that the citizens who vote most consistently and with the highest percentage are the elderly, and that women are now estimated to be 56% of the voting population.
As for Matthews comments about old white women...what does that make Stephanie Tubbs-Jones, Maxine Waters, Sheila Jackson-Lee and Maya Angelou? (Oh, and Mrs Jesse Jackson)

Jamie,

I watch it as well.

And I'll remind posters here that the BBC will be pulling their newscasts off PBS pretty soon.

o ---------------------------------

"Obama said he's going to campaign in 57 states, and it turns out that there are 57 Islamic states."

He would have problems, see this from the NYT:

"As the son of the Muslim father, Senator Obama was born a Muslim under Muslim law as it is universally understood."

The point made in the article is that conversion from Muslim to another religion is : "the worst of all crimes that a Muslim can commit, worse than murder (which the victim’s family may choose to forgive)."

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/12/opinion/12luttwak.html?_r=2&ref=opinion&oref=slogin&oref=slogin

John Kerry must be filled with self loathing to support Obama.

http://www.politico.com/blogs/jonathanmartin/0508/Obama_keeps_on_repudiating_boomers.html

Obama uses lies to kick boomers to the curb ....again.

Just another delusional day for the Clintonites. You guys will crow that Billary won tonight, but as I've told you for MONTHS now, it's over.

Three more weeks and then Billary will given in a space Hall of Failed Presidential campaigns.

And I forgot to comment on this yesterday, but dang Craig, they really called you out yesterday morning on Morning Joe. I've been saying that Craig has been in the bag for Clinton forever, and I even gave a list of negative Obama headlines Craig will post in the future.

When Billary inevitably decides to imitate the Black Knight of Monty Python fame, refusing to leave after June 3rd, Craig will still be saying it's not over. And also saying she can still win. LOL

Posted by: Bye Bye Billary | May 13, 2008 7:58 AM

WILL YOU EVER STOP WITH THE INSULTS? I HAVE ASKED NICELY SEVERAL TIMES FOR YOU TO CONSIDER THE USE OF "BILLARY" AND HOW IT'S INSULTING TO MOST CLINTON SUPPORTERS. AND NOW YOUR POST IS ANOTHER 'NYAH NYAH NYAH NYAH NYAH"... I REALLY THINK YOU AND NASH SHOULD MEET EACH OTHER. I THINK YOU TWO COULD MAKE "BEAUTIFUL MUSIC" TOGETHER.

Jamie:
Re the Oregon polling data, I find it interesting that Obama and Clinton are tied among those who state they have already mailed in their ballots. This suggests to me that those who have not yet voted may be soft in their support and still waiting on events.

Jamie: Not that I think Sen Clinton will win Oregon ... it is a funny state, the coast very blue, inland very red (like California) and the blues generally outnumber the reds. I think she is hoping for better than expected ... we'll see.
What would it mean if she came on strong in the last contests?

Go EuroTom!
We get enough of it on MSNBC.
We don't need it here.
Thanks Tom!

mornin' all.

Can't play much today - an occasional pop in, nothing more.

Renee, what the hell has happened to the Celts? Best record in the NBA, and I believe they had the best reg. season road record. Cleveland has its work cut out for it to take 2 of the next 3. Not enough backup for Lebron. The formula is apparently that if he has a double double, Cleveland wins.

Skylark, sorry, but you are misinformed. WV has voted for the successful dem candidate for pres. in every election since 1916 (which includes Kennedy, Johnson, Carter and Clinton since 1960), we have a dem governor, 2 dem senators, and 2 of our 3 reps are dem, 2/3 of our state legislature is dem and only one statewide officeholder (Secretary of State) is republican. Yep, we're a rep state, alright that should be written off as being a rep state in pres. elections. I hope Axelrod doesn't have your insight into the swing states' electoral leanings.

EuroTom,

Anything before which people attach the word "New" with a capital N usually means brattiness is in season.

Brattiness is always a part of American idealism.

Brattiness is always the part which fails in its promise, in its premise, in its execution.

The most bitter, excorciating people on this site are the ones with the least interest in policy.

They are enraged -- not with the system, not with the war but with their own existences.

If I were to go a production company where I was working with a pitch called "The New Screenplay"... all I would be doing was evading the actual crap I had to sell.

Your diet works.

Theirs is made entirely of Magic Beans.

And the Magic Bean Diet transforms anyone who lives on it into a flaming stream of angry farts.

"Early-ish on in the primary, Barney Frank posted( an Op/Ed piece at HuffPo and other places that focused on a key reason Hillary: his unease with Obama's rhetoric about getting beyond the conflicts of the 90s. Frank pointed out that the issues fought over in the 1990s -- abortion, gay rights, the role of government -- are central to what it means to be a progressive. He was proud to have fought them. Indeed, he asked implicitly, was Obama suggesting that he could wave a wand and make these issues go away? Or, was he suggesting that we must not fight on these issues in service of some idea of "post-partisanship"? And what could we hope to accomplish?
I don't think we have ever gotten the answers from Obama.

And, now, Obama appears to be echoing the narrative, spread by the right and their media friends, that the anti-war movement was against the troops. We all know the stories -- that soldiers were spat upon as they returned from Vietnam. In reality, there are few, if any, credible reports that this happened. It was quite the opposite -- anti-war protesters wanted to end a meaningless war and bring the draftees home.
............
hope and thought we could change Washington. We didn't succeed but we marched our hearts out against the war and for civil rights and paved the way. Now he's co-opted the words and reduced them to a campaign slogan, and to top it off, throws us under the bus.
He was 7 years old in 1968 and now wants to gain his street cred among conservatives by distancing himself from us to prove his patriotism and fitness to run against "war hero" John McCain?

He's not showing unity and a new kind of politics. He's spreading divisiveness and showing his brand of politics is no different than that of those that preceded him. "

Obama makes it clear he does not need or want the help of the boomer generation. ...and certainly has not respect or sense of history for what has preceded him as well.

He seems to be working as hard as he can to make sure all these people either stay home for vote for the GOP

maggisd

The only thing that would really be a total game changer (just to use the term or light minded twits) would be a Clinton win in Oregon.

Obama is considered such a total shoo in for the state that if she actually wiped out that seven point spread to win (or for that matter got withing two points) , it would be such a bombshell, that even MNSBCobama would have to pay attention. It's not likely but it sure would be exciting.

Pogo: TY for the good information. Considering how strong McCain is in New Hampshire, Sen Obama really would need to win WV and NM (where I suspect McCain also will be strong)...
I still would like to know how Sen Obama thinks he can make up the electoral votes of the big swing states.

maggi: "Not that I think Sen Clinton will win Oregon ... it is a funny state, the coast very blue, inland very red (like California) and the blues generally outnumber the reds. I think she is hoping for better than expected"

and Hillary hasn't really campaigned much there yet. Obama has spent a lot of time there, but I don't remember the numbers being much different before. So the part about them tied with those who already voted is good news-but don't know what to make of it. Maybe her voters just vote sooner? I don't quite know what to make of the female drop in support there either. There's probably a phenomenal amunt of Obama advertising, judging by what he's doing in other states. Maybe Oregondemocrat will come on later and tell us how things look there.

Meg: I do know that Obama has been "up" in Oregon for quite some time and HRC cannot match him in funds. It's too bad that her campaign wasted so much money trying to win Iowa...it was always a losing proposition, but I suppose they hoped for a knock-out punch.
The thing that amuses me is when people talk about Sen Obama being a good potential executive because he's run such a good campaign ... in that case, we should all vote for David Axelrod, I guess.

Hi folks, I'm here early!

EuroTom, I think that byebye and nash are really the same person with MPD. So I'm sure they do know each other well.

It will interesting how many voters will vote in WVA with the media saying all week it's over, it's over. Hopefully the voters will send a msg to the press to stay out of it and let them have their say. Next week in those two states too.

"I still would like to know how Sen Obama thinks he can make up the electoral votes of the big swing states."

Some of the big swing states will go Democrat no matter what-
and in New Mexico, he has the Governor on his side.

Lynn C: I could not agree with you more regarding Sen Obama's rhetoric about Boomers and also the preceding generation. What has bothered me about Sen Obama from the first is that his unique upbringing seems to have left him without certain gut-level appreciation for his own country ... that what he knows he learned from books. When I first heard the 57 state thing, for instance, I thought it was a joke...but since he apologized for misspeaking I guess it wasn't and I have to wonder who would ever make such a mistake?

Hi 9/11 ... well I didn't mean to go all CAPS... and I was in a sour mood at the moment, and the gleeful taunting just burned my *ss.

Lynn C,
FYI, Obama is a member of the baby boomer generation.

jeejee I agree... the rhetoric and the sentence structure suggests one and the same. I have thought it before, and I am even more convinced now.

Good morning :)

Meg: All the traditionally Dem big states will go Dem no matter what .... California, Massachusetts, New York, etc.
My question is the real swing states ... his surrogates have given the impression they do not need Ohio, Pennsylvania...and they certainly seem willing to forego Florida and Michigan. That's a lot of electoral votes to give up.
BTW, I think McCain has a real chance in NM. I don't think Richardson covered himself with glory, and McCain is not only from a neighboring state but has a very solid record with Hispanics and native Americans.

No need to for an explanation, Tom. You were right on the money.
Off Topic Btw.... how is the diet going?

Since the Supers will determine this race and based on all the so called experts this race is over then tell me why the Supers are holding out. I don't believe they are being nice to Hillary, this is an election for President not a lovefest. Also if Hillary is running out of money then why send her daughter to Puerto Rico. She could go there anytime she wanted too. I don't believe anyone would continue this race if they thought they did not have a chance of winning. After 15 months, it's got to be tiring. Why put yourself thru it. I think she believes there is something out there that is going to change this and it starts today.

My Thanks to Renee and Jamie and Flatus. Comforting to have your condolences. Jamie just couldn't speak of it before. My Dad being the political Guru of the family, he was still talking about the race before he died. He could hardly speak, but would spout off what the race needed to do to win. ;0) Nothing like keeping the blood running until the end.

EUROTOM, they are two individuals.... sorry. Watch the writing both distinctly different. I guessed long ago....

Back to packing.

I'm doing good... I've lost around 35 lbs I guess... not always easy, but I am taking it seriously!

Thanks for asking!

vad - WV will vote in large numbers today - there are many statewide and local elections (including proposed levys, which bring the voters out in droves) on the ballot in addition to the presidential race. Plus it is nice here today, so folks will be out and about.

Meg, Richardson doesn't seem to be performing any magic for Obama in NM.

http://www.pollster.com/08-NM-Pres-GE-MvO.php

Top of the day peeps

"Sometimes the worst thing that can happen to a candidate is the people who support him or her."

You said a mouthful there Jamie, I think that all time as I read through the posts here.

For what it's worth, my co-worker heard on the news yesterday that KY has picked the president in the GE since 1864. Bill Clinton won the state twice, and Hillary will win it big in the primaries, and would probably do the same in November.

Obama was eight years old in 1968. I do not consider him a part of the Vietnam era boomer generation

So what's you point anyway.
He is still repeating rightwing talking points and
denigrating the hardwork of a lot of people

Obama claims he is a post Selma march baby (another attempt to revise history) not a post world war 2 baby.

Brian,

Have you protested to your candidate about his failure to wean the nation off fossil fuels with his public (in KY at least) lauding of his own support for liquid coal?

maggi"The thing that amuses me is when people talk about Sen Obama being a good potential executive because he's run such a good campaign ... in that case, we should all vote for David Axelrod, I guess.'

Good point. I have read that Obama is an Axelrod invention.
May not be a pretty way to put it, but it's true.

My condolences on the loss of your dad, Sheila. I know how difficult it is to lose a parent. You will be in my prayers.
Mary

I have never heard a voter that voted because they were out and about and just happened to be at their place to vote and stopped in. Something has to be on the ballot to bring them out, and I still think in this case it's the presidential race.

"And the Magic Bean Diet transforms anyone who lives on it into a flaming stream of angry farts."

Ha! 9/11 -- you are great.

pogo "Richardson doesn't seem to be performing any magic for Obama in NM."

Very Good news! ty

Cool, Ray Nagan and Bill Ritter (gov. of Colorado) just endorsed Obama, two more SDs.

You guys are my Heroes!
Great day.

I'll return the favor Brian. Every time I start to warm up slightly to Sen. Obama, you guarantee that I couldn't vote for him if someone had a gun to my head.

West Virginia. Kentucky.
Bellwether states.
YES!

Good coverage of the Myanmar disaster

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/7398623.stm

vad, I didn't mean it in that sense. I mean that the weather is nice, so the voters won't use that as an excuse to stay home. This is a big primary election here - they'll vote.

meg, you're welcome, although if BO is indeed the candidate, and I think he will be, I hope Richardson will be able to bring NM into the dem column in Nov.

Jamie says: I'll return the favor Brian. Every time I start to warm up slightly to Sen. Obama, you guarantee that I couldn't vote for him if someone had a gun to my head.

With the help of MSNBC, Brian keeps up the good work.
Way to go.

I couldn't vote for Obams if someone had a gun to my head either.

Brian,

Have you protested to your candidate about his failure to wean the nation off fossil fuels with his public (in KY at least) lauding of his own support for liquid coal?

Are you considering what other promises he will not give a poop about keeping?

My mistake, it was the former gov. of Colorado that endorsed Obama this morning, not the current one.

Obama’s Chavez Communist Hezbollah Hamas Problem

"And Chavez, not missing a beat, rolled out the welcome mat for Hamas...

So what does this have to do with Barack Obama. Let’s start with Bill Ayers again. You know, the guy Barack barely knew but also the same guy who named Barack as President of the Chicago School Reform Collaborative (The Annenberg Challenge). Ayers is a frequent visitor to Venezuela and also enjoys a relationship with Chavez."

http://noquarterusa.net/blog/2008/05/12/obamas-chavez-communist-hezbollah-hamas-problem/

Brian,

Who gives a poop about who endorses Obama?

This is YOUR responsibility. (I know -- a new word in your lexicon.)

He is YOUR candidate and he just dumped 20% of what you expected him to achieve with Pelosi once elected.

Grow up.

Be responsible for your views and your candidate's abandonment of 'em.

Sheila...

You already have my support and condolences over the passing of your dad and I offer them again.

It seems that everyone forgets that when Russia wanted to put missiles on our doorstep in Cuba we didn't like it, so why should Putin feel any different about us putting missiles on his doorstep.

And like the Mission Accomplished sign Bush used he also told Putin to get over it that the cold war was over.

Just like his statement to Bring It On in Iraq he incited more violence against American Troops.

I fear Bush more than I fear Putin and Russia. If you don't think he won't take us into war in Iran you better think again.

He's insane and don't give a damn what the American People think and you all better wake up before its to late.

God Bless.

In defense of Hillary - Pat Buchanan

"Bill and Hillary Clinton are not playing a race card. Rather, the liberal media and some black journalists with sentimental, emotional or ideological investments in Obama are playing the intimidation card."

http://worldnetdaily.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=64150

Blog Hillocrats of the female persuasion (and men too I guess): Apparently we are missing something.

http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/politics/2008/05/08/obama.jeans.cnn

Ally,

The one leg up, "See I'm A Male" pose was a little hard to miss. It must have sent a major thrill up Matthews leg.

Hey

Remember half of the democratic votes cast today will safely be in the Republican column come November.

How can you only poll 25% in a state where the locals vote Democrat and claim to be a national candidate?

What is the new electoral coalition Obama is putting together?
I keep hearing it but all I see are a lot of AAs voting with their hearts
and a lot of Naderites voting their anger.
The rest is made up of college students that fall in and out of love with the next georgeous babe or hunk that walk by.

All of these folks are safely in the Democrat camp.

Democrats make up 36% of the electorate.
So how does Obama blow off the the rest and survive.

The answer is he doesn't.

You can't win states like Virginia when you have more pictures taken of you hugging Ted Kennedy than you have hugging your wife.

It is the same old story.
Republicans only need 30 or 40 electoral college votes to win.

Democrats need around 85

Go play with this map
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/politics/interactives/campaign08/electoral-college/

With Obama's hard run to the left he has lost states like Florida and Missouri.
I don't see him getting them back.
As I said before forget about Virginia, notice the Democrats they elect are damn near Republicans.

As I play with the map and polls, it comes down to the same state, Ohio will decide the election

I hope those of you from Ohio have a good set ear plugs.

Friends don't let friends vote a straight ticket
Vote for divided government
Vote McCain

CHARLESTON, W.Va., May 12 -- Sen. Barack Obama will make it clear on Tuesday that he has turned his attention to the general election, traveling to the November battleground states of Missouri and Michigan.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/05/12/AR2008051202620.html?nav=rss_politics

Yes, Jamie, I guess you're right. Miss is the wrong word.

Vogue. Vogue. Vogue. (Madonna sings in the background.)

Brian,

Cut and paste, rot and waste. What a fine life for you.

He dumped your fossil fuel platform for something that is hated by environmentalists.

Fuel beans, eh?

Such a sucker for a pretty face you are.

The press says one thing and the voters say another.

http://elections.foxnews.com/2008/05/13/clinton-hopes-west-virginia-will-deliver-big-win-for-long-shot-bid/

Racism alarms Obama's backers
Candidate's foot soldiers encounter name-calling, vandalism, bomb threats

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/24588813/

"CO2 'highest for 650,000 years' "

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/4467420.stm

Light up another jay, Brian -- it's time for your hourly cruise down The River Denial.

Obama sold out the environmental voters once he felt he had the nomination.

Any guesses who's next among his supporters?

Remember -- with a lot of pols support is a one way street -- us to them, not them to us.

Racism alarms Obama's backers
Candidate's foot soldiers encounter name-calling, vandalism, bomb threats

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/24588813/

a completely unebelieveable story from an unbelievable source. They also said people spit on soldiers and that wasn't true either.

This is just more of the same kind of fake video tape stories...everyones a racist but the Obama supporters.

The only one that might have been more obvious is the hooking of the thumbs in the waist band with the fingers pointing down from both sides.

He must be taking lessons from Paris Hilton

So Brian...

What will be next to get sawed off the Obama platform?

Troops coming home?

Constitutional balance of powers restored?

Tax laws rescinded?

Universal health care? (Well, his plan ain't universal -- more, well, regional.)

Any guesses from the crowd?

BHO said on one of the debates that he would not be a good CEO, he loses things. My question: What the heck does he think the oval office is. The presidency is the largest CEO office in the US. He said it himself. He would not make a good president.

Julie

Remember --

This ain't someone else -- Wright, Ayres or Rezko.

This is not implication by association.

This is HIS change of HIS direction on the sly.

Sounds like New Politics has gone back to The Classic Original to me.

Naturally MSNBC doesn't mention Sen. Clinton being booed by the Obama supporters at Democratic dinners. They are juvenile and rude and then wonder why adults actually reject their hero.

Former Edwards advisor Mudcat Saunders on hope and change among Reagan Democrats:

“What people don’t understand about Appalachia is that we’ve heard all this ‘hope’ and ‘change’ stuff since the English kicked the Scotch-Irish out in the 1700s. We’re ‘hoped’ out. Nothing ever changes out here. He’s got to come with some solid policies.”

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0508/10230.html

Sheila'
You have my deepest sympathy.It was a very hard time for me when I lost my father in'84 so I feel your pain
Ruth

Clinton status puts focus on her $20 million debt
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080513/ap_on_el_pr/clinton_debt

Here, you go, this sums it up pretty nicely, I think

http://bp3.blogger.com/_t-EfdceTs60/SCiw6kJnbEI/AAAAAAAADis/xobZFZNitwE/s1600-h/ObomaManiacBehaviorGuide.jpg

I totally agree with the write in vote.It won't cost as much as a third party and through the internet we could educate enough people on how to do it and could reach many millions with just a click of the mouse .We need to go for it.
Ruth

Nick "Rezko Watch: Obama's Superdelegate Bamboozle
http://www.rezkowatch.blogspot.com/ "

I read it. And for some reason I'm not surprised.
I don't think I'd put anything past his campaign.

http://politicallydrunk.blogspot.com/
I read here yesterday about how he drove his Chicago senate opponent out of the race.

Looks like Obama's number are climbing in Oregon again, PPP puts him up by 14 points in the state.

http://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/2008/president/or/oregon_democratic_primary-298.html

And Rasmussen has him up by 9 in their national daily:

http://rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/election_20082/2008_presidential_election/daily_presidential_tracking_poll

jeejee: "Here, you go, this sums it up pretty nicely, I think"
http://bp3.blogger.com/_t-EfdceTs60/SCiw6kJnbEI/AAAAAAAADis/xobZFZNitwE/s1600-h/ObomaManiacBehaviorG

Jee, great find. my favorite was the Stark Reality Mode.

JeeJee

LOL
That is so funny
And they are all here, I can even assign names to each type.

LOL

Friends don't let friends vote a straight ticket
Vote for divided government
Vote McCain

Ruth maybe you and the rest of the Clintonista could do fund raising shows in the barn, just like an Andy Hardy movie!

911 'What will be next to get sawed off the Obama platform?"

Depends on what state he's in.

"Ruth maybe you and the rest of the Clintonista could do fund raising shows in the barn, just like an Andy Hardy movie! " ..........posted by Brian.

And we can offer donkey rides to the kiddies. you available, Brian? We need an ass.

Doesn't seem to be a lot of coverage of the WV primary today, interesting. I'll be curious to see just how heavy the turn out is.

Ruth-Write in vote for Hillary. Yes!